Flash-lam p



No. 6I|,009. Patented Sept. 20, i898.

C. H. GOODMAN.

FLASH LAMP.

(Application led Max-.Ab 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

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PATENT CHARLES H. GOODMAN, OF BUOYRUS, OHIO.

FLASH-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,009, datedSeptember 20, 1898. Application inea March 4, 189s. serial No. 672,515.uit moda.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES II. GOODMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buoyrus, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Flash-Lamps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thatclass of devices which are technically known as flash-lamps and in whicha charge of Hash -powder is quickly ignited to produce a powerful lightfor flash photography; and the invention consists of the parts and theconstructions and combinations of parts forming the improved flash-lamp,which I shall hereinafter describe and claim,

The object of this invention is to so construct a flash-lamp that it mayoccupy but a small space and may be readily carried in the pocket loadedfor instant use, so that an intense fiash-light may be developed quicklyand unexpectedly within the range of the lens of a camera to secure adistinct photographic image of a person or object at night or on cloudydays or within dark places where the natural light is not strong enoughto produce satisfactory results. With a device of the character shownand described the charge of flash-powder is always ready for instantuse, and persons or objects many feet distant may be brought within aeld of intense light and a clear photographic picture of the samesecured.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts, Figure lis a perspective view of myimproved flash-lamp. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sameon the line a: a: of Fig. I. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached view of thematch-holder. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged details to be referred to.

The bowl A of my lamp is of sufficient capacity to contain a full chargeof any suitable liash-powderwhich will produce a -powerful actinic orother intense light for some distance from'the operator, said bowlpreferably flaring outwardly, so as to scatter and diverge the atoms ofpowder within an areaor field sufficient to obtain the best results. Theupper or open end of the bowl is provided with a hinged lid or cover B,which normally closes the entrance to the bowl and confines the chargeof powder in place, this lid also serving when thrown open by theexplosion of powder as a deiiector for throwing the powder forward, andit may be polishedlor otherwise made with a reflecting-surface vtoconcentrate'the'light-rays. The lower portion of the bowl is contracted,'and substantially in' line with this portion isa device, to behereinafter described, which ignites the powder at the bottom andexplodes it. This results in the remaining and superposed portion of theflash-powder being ejected from the bowl and diffused in the outer air,the lid Vof the bowl being thrown open by the explosiveforce andtheatomsV of powder ignited inthe air 'after leaving the bowl, as is commonin devices of this character. The lower portion of the bowl is formed orprovided with an internally-threaded nipple b, into which is screwed ahollow stem O, having at some appropriate point in its length afingerpiece c, which may be of any suitable character. Instead of makingthe stem separate from the bowl the bowl and stem may be made integralwithout departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Within the stem is fitted to slide a matchholder consisting of a tube D,slitted longitudinally on opposite sides to form elastic members adaptedto receive and frictionally grasp an ordinary match d, the head end ofthe match projectingbeyond the inner end of the holder, as shown in Fig.2, and the outer 'end of the holder having a head or thumb piece e,against which the thumb is pressed to cause the match-holder to beforced inward and the head of the match to contact with a means forigniting it at a point where the spark or flame therefrom will readilyignite the powder in the bottom of the bowl.

The matchmay be ignited by simplyforcing the head thereof past aroughened'surface or points in the inner end ofthe stem; but theconstruction I prefer to'ruse isl to secure in or to the inner endv ofthe stem one or more steel blades g, arranged in the path of movement ofthe match-head. If small matches are used, two blades may be employed,crossing each other, as shown in Fig. 4, and if larger matches are useda single blade, as shown in Fig. 5, will be suficient for the purpose.

Because of the different diameters of matches and to provide a positivemeans for preventing the matches sticking in the stem and notwithdrawing with the holder after ignition I prefer to attach to theexterior of the match-holder a bowed or curved springplate E, having oneor more spurs or points F projecting inwardly and adapted to passthrough an opening in the side of the holder, whereby when the match isinserted in said holder and the latter forced into the stem B the innerwall of the stem straightens out the spring-plate and forces the spur orpoint F through its opening and into the match to so securely hold thelatter that when the charge of powder is exploded the match-holder andits contained burned match may be readily removed from the stem and theused match removed. The spring E also exerts su fiicient frictionagainst the inside of the stem to prevent the accidental withdrawal ofthe matchholder from the stem.

In addition to these features I also prefer to use a means forpreventing the accidental discharge of the match when the flash-lamp iscarried in the pocket or is subjected to accidental jar. Some form ofsafety appliance is used, and the one I prefer to adopt is a springplateG, secured to the outer portion of the match-holder and having its innerend adapted to contact with the end of the stem, so as to limit theextent of insertion of the holder in the stem under ordinary conditions;but when it is desired to use the device for flash-lighting purposes astrong pressure on the outer end of the match-holder results in theinner end of the spring being lifted out of its contact with the end ofthe stem, when the holder is quickly shot forward, igniting the matchand exploding the hash-powder, as before described.

A device of this character occupies but a small space, is always readyfor instant use, and gives most satisfactory results. It is cheaplymade, and to secure lightness and ornamental effects may be constructedof aluminium or other metals, especially such as do not readily tarnish.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a flash-lamp, a bowl to contain a charge of flash-powder said bowlmade shallow and iiaring outwardly and having a movable lid or cover toconfine the charge in place, in combination with a hollow stem rigidwith said bowl, a movable holder therein and a match carried by theholder and adapted to ignite the powder from below.

2. In a hash-lamp, a bowl to contain a charge of explosive powder, ahollow stem for said bowl, a match and a movable holder therefor, andmeans for limiting the initial insertion of. the holder within the stemwhereby the holder is held against accidental movement.

3. In a Hash-lamp, a bowl to contain the charge of flash-powder, saidbowl flaring outwardly, having a hinged lid or cover and an integralthreaded nipple, a hollow stem to engage said nipple, a match-holderslidable within the stem and means carried by the stem and adapted tocontact with and ignite a match carried by the holder.

4.. In a dash-lamp, a bowl to contain a charge of flash-powder said bowlflaring outwardly and provided with a lid or cover, a hollow stem fittedto the bowl having its inner end provided with one or more blades withinor contiguous to the base of the bowl, a holder slidable within the stemand adapted to carry the head of a match into contact with said blade orblades, a finger-piece on the stem and a thumb-piece on the holderwhereby the latter is operated.

5. A dash-lamp comprising a bowl to contain the flash-powder, a hollowstem for the bowl, a match-holder slidable within the stem, means forigniting the match contiguous to the bowl-chamber, and a spring or plateon the holder having a spur or point to be forced through an opening inthe holder so that it enters the match and thereby insures the burnedmatch being withdrawn with the holder.

G. A flash-lamp comprising a bowl to contain the flash-powder, a hollowstem for the bowl, a slitted holder movable in the stem and providedwith a spring-plate having a projecting spur or point, said plate beingbowed or curved so that when the holder is inserted in the stem theplate is straightened out and the point or spur thereof is forced intothe match, said plate frictionally ho1d ing the holder within the stem,and means for igniting the match contiguous to or within thebowl-chamber.

7. A dash-lamp comprising a bowl to contain flash-powder, a hollow stemfor the bowl, a match-holder and means for igniting a match carriedthereby, and a safety springplate on the holder adapted to contact withthe stern to normally limit the insertion of the holder in the stem,said spring-plate yielding under pressure, to permit the holder to beshot forward to ignite the flash-powder.

8. An improved iiashlamp consisting of a shallow bowl flaring outwardlyand provided with a hinged lid or cover and laterally-projecting nipple,a hollow stem to be fitted to said nipple and provided withaliinger-piece, a slitted holder movable in the stem and adapted tocontain a match, a bowed or curved spring on the holder having a spur orpoint to be pressed into the match, to posi- IOO IIO

tively secure the latter to the holder, a blade In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set or blades at the inner end of the stem and in my handin presence of two subscribing witro the path of movement of thematch-head, and nesses. n

a spring-plate on the holder for limiting the i T initial position ofthe same within the stem, CHARLES H GOODMAN said plate yielding underpressure to enable Witnesses:

the holder to be shot forward to ignite the FRANK E. LAMB,

match. HENRY BENTON.

